Church farewells two

Retired Methodist Church minister, Reverend Atalifo Faktaufon is surrounded by family members at their home in Valelevu, Nasinu yesterday. Picture: JONACANI LALAKOBAU

MEMBERS of the Methodist Church in Fiji and Rotuma present at the thanksgiving church service at the Centenary Church in Suva yesterday bade farewell to two of its ministers who have reached the retirement age.

Reverend Atalifo Faktaufon and his counterpart Reverend Saruwesh Kumar Singh were yesterday presented with blankets by the head of the Methodist church, Reverend Tuikilakila Waqairatu.

"The symbol of the blanket presented to them is that it's time to rest," communications secretary Reverend James Bhagwan said.

"And we are sending them to rest well, to take care of themselves.

"So they are basically getting pension from the church. But sometimes when there is a need, they come back to serve."

For Mr Faktaufon and his wife Lia, serving as a church minister for 33 years came with its challenges and responsibilities.

But they said they were confident that with the help of God, things fell into place since their first posting to the Ba division in 1980.

"I am now retiring physically but I can never retire spiritually," Mr Faktaufon said with a smile on his face.

"When I committed my life to my Lord and Saviour, I promised to serve him until the day I die. And that is what I am going to do."

Mr Faktaufon, who turned 70 yesterday, said with the work of ministering comes challenges and never once could he complain without knowing that the God he serves was not too far away to hear his prayers.

"I have made plans with radini (Mrs Fauktaufon) that we will continue to live with our children here in Suva.

"And we will continue to help the Rotuman church at Churchward Chapel and any other Rotumans out there that need to help. We believe that through God, everything is possible."